Noakhali was one of 15 districts, including Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong, and offshore and riverine islands (chars), whose low-lying areas faced a “storm surge of 4–5 feet above normal astronomical tide,” according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

Gusts of up to nearly 120 kilometres per hour were forecast and all fishing boats and trawlers that would normally operate in the northern Bay of Bengal were advised to remain in port.

‘Earlier, smarter’

The BDRCS cash distribution involved both private banks and the Post Office, and was partly carried out via mobile phone after registration of FbF financing beneficiaries by Red Crescent youth volunteers.

“Forecast-based financing is a great example of science-based early action getting resources to the local level ahead of a disaster,” said Climate Centre Director Maarten van Aalst.

“With the help of partners, especially Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, the Red Cross and Red Crescent is ‘walking the walk’ on this with FbF, as demonstrated by these early actions in Bangladesh, creating a window for more effective use of humanitarian resources.”